Device for determining finger hole positions in bowling balls

ABSTRACT

A ball-like device having a medial section and a pair of opposed cap sections. The medial section is formed with a sequence of holes designed to selectively fit the thumb of both right and left handed bowlers. One of the cap sections is provided with a sequence of holes in the form of pairs of smaller and larger holes that are designed to selectively fit the ring and middle fingers of right handed bowlers. The other cap section is provided with a sequence of holes in the form of pairs of smaller and larger holes that are designed to selectively fit the ring and middle fingers of left handed bowlers. Each cap section is pivotably mounted to the medial section in order to adjust the span between a selected ring and middle finger hole pair and a selected thumb hole.

United States Patent McIntyre et al.

[451 Oct. 10,1972

DEVICE FOR DETERMINING FINGER HOLE POSITIONS IN BOWLING BALLS [72] Inventors: Hal Byers McIntyre; Harvey Edward Hickey, both of Hopkinsville, Ky.

[73] Assigneez- SW Industries, Inc., Newton, Mass.

[22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 83,932

52 U.S.Cl ..33/174F [51] Int. Cl. ..Gllb 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..33/l74 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,188,868 l/l940 Shepard ..33/l74 F 3,081,549 3/1963 Neary ..33/l74 F 3,156,050 11/1964 Hendricks ..33/l74 F 3,296,706 1/1967 Moreo ..33/174 F Primary Examiner-William D. Martin, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Dennis A. Dearing Attorney-Morse, Altman & Oates ABSTRACT A ball-like device having a medial section and a pair of opposed cap sections. The medial section is formed with a sequence of holes designed to selectively fit the thumb of both right and left handed bowlers. One of the cap sections is provided with a sequence of holes in the form of pairs of smaller and larger holes that are designed to selectively fit the ring and middle fingers of right handed bowlers. The other cap section is provided with a sequence of holes in the form of pairs of smaller and larger holes that are designed to selectively fit the ring and middle fingers of left handed bowlers. Each cap section is pivotably mounted to the medial section in order to adjust the span between a selected ring and middle finger hole pair and a selected thumb hole.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTi'iDnm 10 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 2 I I .L :1

INVENTORS HAL BYERS Mc INTYRE ARVEY EDWARD HICKEY ATTORNEYS P'ATENTEDnm 10 I972 3 6 5 4 sum 2 or 2 FIG. 6

iNVENTORS HAL BYERS Mc INTYRE HARVEY EDWARD HICKEY BYMWM ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR DETERMINING FINGER HOLE POSITIONS IN BOWLING BALIS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention I The present invention relates to the drilling of finger holes in bowling balls and more particularly to a device for measuring the position of such finger holes in conformity with the particular dimensions of the hand of the individual bowler.

2. Description of the Prior Art Although the casual bowler may be satisfied to choose the most comfortably handled among predrilled bowling balls that may be available on a particular occasion, the serious or professional bowler often finds it advantageous to use a ball which has been particularly fitted to his hand. The present invention contemplates a novel device by which finger hole sizes and spacing of very wide range may be adjusted to provide both left and right handed bowlers with the precise feel that will be experienced when a bowling ball is drilled to corresponding specifications.

An example of the prior art devices is disclosed in Letters Patent of the U.S. No. 3,296,706, dated Jan. 10, 1967, entitled Device For Determining Finger- Hole Positions In a Bowling Ball, in the name of RE. Moreo and assigned to the assignee of this application. Moreo provides a device having a medial section formed with a sequence of paired holes designed to selectively fit the ring and middle fingers of a bowler and a pair of opposed cap sections formed with a sequence of holes designed to fit the thumb of the bowler. Moreo suffers from the disadvantage that two different media] sections are required, one is used for .right handed bowlers and the other is used for left handed bowlers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of the foregoing type in the form of a ball-like configuration having a construction that simply and efficaciously enables the selection of the size of the thumb hole, the sizes of and spacing between the middle finger and ring finger holes and the distance between the thumb hole and the middle finger and ring finger holes for both left and right handed bowlers in a device of relatively few parts. Essentially, the ball-like configuration comprises a medial body section presenting a generally spherical periphery about an axis and opposed hollow regions through which the axis projects, and a pair of opposed sector cap sections presenting oppositely convex spherical surfaces, which cap sections are pivotally attached to the medial body section in such a way that their outer spherical surfaces continue the outer spherical surface of the medial body section. Each of the sector cap sections is provided with a sequence of paired ring finger and middle finger holes, the sequence of paired holes in one of the sector cap sections being designed to selectively fit the ring and middle fingers of a right handed bowler and the sequence of paired holes in the other sector cap section being designed to selectively fit the ring and middle fingers of a left handed bowler. The body section is formed with a sequence of holes designed to selectively fit the thumb of both right and left handed bowlers. Each sector cap section is pivotably and rotatable mounted to the body section and held in space relation thereto by a frame member in order to adjust the span between a selected ring and middle finger hole pair and a selected thumb hole. The arrangement is such that a variety of different relationships peculiar to the hands of right and left handed bowlers can be achieved without interchanging components of the device.

The invention accordingly comprises the device possessing the features, properties and relation of parts, which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, the scope of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly brokenaway, of a preferred device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the medial body section of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the anchor of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of one of the opposed sector cap sections of the device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the sector cap section of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The device discloses specifically herein as embodying the present invention is most generally shown in FIG. 1 as including a medial body section 10 and a pair of opposed sector cap sections 12 and 14. The outer peripheries of all sections 10, 12 and 14 present a spherical surface except for sequences of differently dimensioned holes in the sections and variable gaps between the sections. The sequence of holes in cap section 12 is in the form of pairs 16, 18 of smaller and larger holes that are designed to selectively fit the ring and middle fingers of a right handed bowler. The sequence of holes in cap section 14 is in the form of pairs 20, 22 of smaller and larger holes that are designed to selectively fit the ring and middle fingers of a left handed bowler. The sequence of holes 24 in medial body section 10 is designed to selectively fit the thumb of a right handed bowler when his ring and middle fingers are fitted to a pair of holes 16, 18 in cap section 12 and to selectively fit the thumb of a left handed bowler when his ring and middle fingers are fitted to a pair of holes 20, 22 in cap section 14.

In a manner to be described below, the variable gaps between the sections provide clearance for pivotal movement of the cap sections with respect to the body section in order to adjust the span between a selected ring and middle finger hole pair and a selected thumb hole. Thus, a right handed bowler will insert his thumb into a selected thumb hole 24 and his ring and middle fingers into a selected pair 16, 18 of ring finger and middle finger holes. A left handed bowler will insert his thumb into a selected thumb hole 24 and his ring and middle fingers into a selected pair 20, 22 of ring finger and middle finger holes. The arrangement is such that all of the ring finger, middle finger, and thumb holes are of regulation depth and such that spans between ring fingers and middle finger pairs at one position and selected thumb holes at another position may be selected with great versatility.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, medial section is composed of a polymer, for example, an elastomer such as hard rubber in an oblate shape which is developed about an axis through its center 26. Circularly enveloping the axis is a ridge 28, the most outward surface of which is spherical in conformation. Oppositely extending from ridge 28 are a pair of opposed indented spherical zones 30, 32 which are developed about center 26. At opposite axial regions of medial section 10 are a pair of opposed dishedout spaces 34, 26. Each space 34, 36 has an inwardly converging conical surface 38 that intersects indented spherical zones 30 or 32 and that is inwardly limited by an inner circular surface 40 which is upwardly tapered toward a central hub 42. Hub 42 is integral with the remainder of medial section 10. Hub 42 is provided with opposed threaded central bores, one of which is shown at 44. Turned into threaded bore 44 at each of faces 42, 42 is an externally threaded retaining anchor 46.

As best shown in FIG. 4, anchor 46 includes a cylindrical head 48 and a rod 52. Head 48 is formed with an axial bore 54 and a slot 56. Bore 54 defines a socket 58 having a narrowed neck portion 60. Rod 52 is threaded at one end and is formed with a ball 62 at the other end, ball 62 being provided with a through hole 64 which is adapted to receive a pin 66. Ball 62 is seated within socket 58 and is retained therein by neck 60 and pin 66. The diameter of ball 62 is smaller than the diameter of socket 58 and larger than the diameter of neck portion 60, and the length of pin 66 is substantially equal to the diameter of head 48, pin 66 being pressed into hole 64 and received within slot 56. It will be apparent that, by virtue of the foregoing structure, when head 48 is threaded into bore 44, rod 52 is universally pivotal.

In reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the successive thumb holes are characterized by different diameters. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, by way of example, the following holes are characterized by the following numbered diameters: No. 661 l/l6 inch; No. 68 23/32 inch; No. 703/4 inch; No. 72 -25/32 inch; No. 74l3/l6 inch; No. 76-27/32 inch; No. 78-7/8 inch; No. 80-29/32 inch; No. 82-15/l6 inch; No. 84-31/32 inch; No. 861 inch; No. 88-1 l/32 inch; and No. 90--l l/l6 inch.

Each of cap sectors l2, 14 is in the form shown in FIG. 5 as being composed of a polymer, for example an elastomer such as hard rubber and having an exterior surface of spherical conformation 92 which defines a hub and a shank 94 that is tapered inwardly and that presents a frusto-conical plug 96. The outer extremity of hub 92 is provided with a depression 98 in the form of a concaved surface about the axis of the cap sector. Depression 98 communicates with a hollow bore 100 that extends all the way through hub 92 and shank 94. The innermost surface of bore 98 is cutaway to define a set 104 which is adapted to receive a centrally apertured washer 106.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the successive pair of holes 16, 18 have parallel axis and the successive pairs are characterized by successively different diameters. Specifically, in reference to FIG. 6, by way of example, the following holes are characterized by the following numbered diameters: No. 108--13/l6 inch; No. 110- 7/8 inch; No. 112-27/32 inch; No. ll429/32 inch; No. 116-7/8 inch; No. ll8l5/l6 inch; No. l20- 29/32 inch/ No. l22-31/32 inch; No. l24--l5/l6 inch; No. 126-1 inch. The successive pair of holes 20, 22 are similar to pairs of holes l6, 18 with the exception that the smaller hole of the pair 20, 22 is on the opposite side of the larger hole of the pair.

As shown in FIG. 1, sector cap section 12 is held in spaced relationship to medial body section 10 by means of a frame or gauge member 128 having a shell portion 130 defining an exterior surface of truncated spherical conformation 132 and an interior rib portion 134 that is tapered inwardly and presents a frusto-conical socket 136 adapted for reception of frusto-conical plug 96. The thickness of shell portion 130 is approximately the same as the distance between ridged spherical surface 28 and indented zone 30. A frame 138 which is similar to frame 128 is provided for maintaining sector cap 14 in spaced relationship to medial body section 10. In the illustrated embodiment, by way of example, frames 128 and 138 are composed of aluminum.

In the assembled position, shank 94 is in mating registration with rib 134 and rod 52 is received within bore 100, the threaded end of rod 52 extending from bore 98. Washer 106 is positioned in seat 104 and envelops rod 52. At any pivotal position of sector cap section 12 or 14 with respect to medial section 10, the cap section may be clamped into fixed position by the action of a wing nut 140 which, as shown in FIG. 1, is turned into the externally threaded extremity of its corresponding rod into seated position against the inner extremity of hollow bore 98.

In operation, first the bowler inserts his ring and middle fingers into the ring finger and middle finger holes suited to his hand in the appropriate sector cap section. That is, a right handed bowler will use sector cap section 12 and a left handed bowler will use sector cap section 14. Next the bowler inserts his thumb into the thumb hole suited to his hand. Wing nut 140 of the selected cap section is turned to an outer position whereby the cap section is free to rotate and pivot. Thereafter, the bowler pivots and rotates the selected sector cap section with respect to the body section into the most comfortable relative position. Finally, wing nut 140 of the selected cap section is turned into its innermost clamping condition, wing nut 140 being disposed within bore 98.

The present invention thus provides a versatile device for providing right and left handed bowlers with the precise feel of a ball that is to be drilled. Since certain changes may be made in the above description and drawings without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings be construed in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for measuring bowling grip, said device comprising a medial body section, a pair of opposed sector cap sections, and a pair of intermediate frame sections, one of said frame sections disposed between one of said sector cap sections and said medial body section, the other of said frame sections disposed between the other of said sector cap sections and said medial body section, said medial body section formed with a sequence of thumb holes, each of said sector cap sections formed with a sequence of paired ring and middle finger holes, one said sector cap sections being adapted to gauge the right hand and the other of said sector cap sections being adapted to gauge the left hand said medial body section presenting an outer ridge spherical surface and a pair of inner spherical surfaces on opposite sides of said ridge spherical section, said medial body section including a hub portion coaxial therewith at opposite faces thereof, said hub portion formed with a through bore along the longitudinal axis of said medial body section, a pair of anchors, each of said anchors including a head and a rod, each said head formed with a bore defining a socket having a narrowed neck at one end thereof, one end of each said rod universally pivoted in each said head, each said head mounted within said hub bore in such a way that each said rod extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of said hub in opposite directions, the opposed extremities of each said rod being threaded, each of said cap sections formed with an axial bore for receiving each of said rods, means operatively connected to each of said rods for independently clamping each of said sector cap sections with respect to said medial body section against pivotable and rotatable movement.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each thumb hole in said sequence of thumb holes is of a different diameter than any other thumb hole in said sequence.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ring finger hole of each said pair of holes in one of said sector cap sections is of lesser diameter than the middle hole of said pair of holes in said one sector cap section, holes of the middle hole and ring finger hole of each said pair of said one sector cap section being of different diameter than any other the ring hole and finger hole, respectively, in said pair of holes in said one seetor cap section.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said sector cap sections at the outer extremity of each said axial bore is formed with a depression communicating with said axial bore, said clamping means being at least partially disposed in said depressions.

5. A device for measuring bowling grip, said device comprising a medial body section, a pair of opposed sector cap sections, and a pair of intermediate frame sections, one of said frame sections disposed between one of said sector cap sections and said medial body section, the other of said frame sections disposed between the other of said sector cap sections and said medial body section, said medial body section formed with a sequence of thumb holes, each of said sector cap sections formed with a sequence of paired ring and middle finger holes, one said sector cap sections being adapted to gauge the right hand and the other of said sector cap sections being adapted to gauge the left hand each of said frame sections having a shell defining an exterior surface of truncated spherical conformation and an inwardly tapered rib portion presenting a frustoconical socket, each of said sector cap sections having an exterior surface of spherical conformation definin apered shank portion presen a hub and an inwardly ing a frusto-conical plug, said frusto conical socket being in mating registration with said frusto-conical plug, said medial plug section presenting an outer ridge spherical surface and a pair of inner spherical surfaces on opposite sides of said ridged spherical section, said medial body section including a hub portion coaxial therewith at opposite faces thereof, said hub portion formed with a through bore along the longitudinal axis of said medial body section, a pair of anchors, each of said anchors including a head and a rod, each said head formed with a bore defining a socket having a narrowed neck at one end thereof, one end of each said rod universally pivoted in each said head, each said head mounted within said hub bore in such a way that each said rod extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of said hub in opposite directions, the opposed extremities of each said rod being threaded, each of said cap sections formed with an axial bore for receiving each of said rods, means operatively connected to each of said rods for independently clamping each of said sector cap sections with respect to said medial body section against pivotable and rotatable movement.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said thumb hole in said sequence of thumb holes is of a different diameter than any other thumb hole in said sequence, and wherein the ring finger hole of each said pair of holes in one of said sector cap sections is of lesser diameter than the middle finger hole of said pair of holes in said one sector cap, the middle finger hole and ring finger hole of each said pair of holes of said one sector cap section being of different diameter than any other ring and finger hole, respectively, in said pair of holes in said one sector cap section.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said sector cap sections at the outer extremity thereof concentric with said axial bore is formed with a concaved depression operating to receive said clamping means when said sector cap sections and medial body section are fixed against pivotable and rotatable movement. 

1. A device for measuring bowling grip, said device comprising a medial body section, a pair of opposed sector cap sections, and a pair of intermediate frame sections, one of said frame sections disposed between one of said sector cap sections and said medial body section, the other of said frame sections disposed between the other of said sector cap sections and said medial body section, said medial body section formed with a sequence of thumb holes, each of said sector cap sections formed with a sequence of paired ring and middle finger holes, one said sector cap sections being adapted to gauge the right hand and the other of said sector cap sections being adapted to gauge the left hand said medial body section presenting an outer ridge spherical surface and a pair of inner spherical surfaces on opposite sides of said ridge spherical section, said medial body section including a hub portion coaxial therewith at opposite faces thereof, said hub portion formed with a through bore along the longitudinal axis of said medial body section, a pair of anchors, each of said anchors including a head and a rod, each said head formed with a bore defining a socket having a narrowed neck at one end thereof, one end of each said rod universally pivoted in each said head, each said head mounted within said hub bore in such a way that each said rod extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of said hub in opposite directions, the opposed extremitieS of each said rod being threaded, each of said cap sections formed with an axial bore for receiving each of said rods, means operatively connected to each of said rods for independently clamping each of said sector cap sections with respect to said medial body section against pivotable and rotatable movement.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each thumb hole in said sequence of thumb holes is of a different diameter than any other thumb hole in said sequence.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ring finger hole of each said pair of holes in one of said sector cap sections is of lesser diameter than the middle hole of said pair of holes in said one sector cap section, holes of the middle hole and ring finger hole of each said pair of said one sector cap section being of different diameter than any other the ring hole and finger hole, respectively, in said pair of holes in said one sector cap section.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said sector cap sections at the outer extremity of each said axial bore is formed with a depression communicating with said axial bore, said clamping means being at least partially disposed in said depressions.
 5. A device for measuring bowling grip, said device comprising a medial body section, a pair of opposed sector cap sections, and a pair of intermediate frame sections, one of said frame sections disposed between one of said sector cap sections and said medial body section, the other of said frame sections disposed between the other of said sector cap sections and said medial body section, said medial body section formed with a sequence of thumb holes, each of said sector cap sections formed with a sequence of paired ring and middle finger holes, one said sector cap sections being adapted to gauge the right hand and the other of said sector cap sections being adapted to gauge the left hand each of said frame sections having a shell defining an exterior surface of truncated spherical conformation and an inwardly tapered rib portion presenting a frusto-conical socket, each of said sector cap sections having an exterior surface of spherical conformation defining a hub and an inwardly tapered shank portion presenting a frusto-conical plug, said frusto-conical socket being in mating registration with said frusto-conical plug, said medial plug section presenting an outer ridge spherical surface and a pair of inner spherical surfaces on opposite sides of said ridged spherical section, said medial body section including a hub portion coaxial therewith at opposite faces thereof, said hub portion formed with a through bore along the longitudinal axis of said medial body section, a pair of anchors, each of said anchors including a head and a rod, each said head formed with a bore defining a socket having a narrowed neck at one end thereof, one end of each said rod universally pivoted in each said head, each said head mounted within said hub bore in such a way that each said rod extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of said hub in opposite directions, the opposed extremities of each said rod being threaded, each of said cap sections formed with an axial bore for receiving each of said rods, means operatively connected to each of said rods for independently clamping each of said sector cap sections with respect to said medial body section against pivotable and rotatable movement.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said thumb hole in said sequence of thumb holes is of a different diameter than any other thumb hole in said sequence, and wherein the ring finger hole of each said pair of holes in one of said sector cap sections is of lesser diameter than the middle finger hole of said pair of holes in said one sector cap, the middle finger hole and ring finger hole of each said pair of holes of said one sector cap section being of different diameter than any other ring and finger hole, respectively, in said pair of holes in said one sector cap section.
 7. The device as claimed iN claim 6 wherein each of said sector cap sections at the outer extremity thereof concentric with said axial bore is formed with a concaved depression operating to receive said clamping means when said sector cap sections and medial body section are fixed against pivotable and rotatable movement. 